Split oil seal



March 4, 1941.

J. M. SCHMIED 2,233,902

SPLIT OIL SEAL Filed Jan. 28, 1939 FIG. 2

lNl/ENTOR I 20 PH? .5 FIE 4 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT OFFICE SPLIT 01L SEAL 7 Joseph M. Schmied, Chicago, 111., assignor to Victor Manufacturing & Gasket Company, Chicago, 111., ,a corporation 01' Illinois Application January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,329

1 Claim. (Cl. 286-5) This invention relates to an improved split oil seal, and has, for one of its principal objects, the provision of a fluid seal, particularly for oils and other lubricants which can be applied about a rotating shaft such as an axle or the end of a crank-shaft of an automobilaand which, when so applied, will form an effective seal against loss of lubricant on the one hand and the increase of dust and foreign particles on the other hand.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide an oil seal or the like which is so constructed that it can be assembled in position about a shaft or axle even when the shaft has already been installed or when said shaft or axle .has shoulders or other elements therein which render the sliding application of an annular fluid seal impractical, or out of the question.

Another and further important object of the invention is to provide, in an oil seal, a plurality of parts which are interchangeable and which can be readily assembled about a shaft in sealing relationship therewith and whichv when so assembled, will be positively retained in operative relationship for a practically indefinite length of time.

Another and still further important object of the invention is to provide, in an oil seal, a plurality of prefabricated parts, each of which comprises a semi-circular element adapted to be applied to a shaft and which has a semicircular counterpart adapted to be applied to the other face of the shaft, and, at the same time, one or more of these pairs of semi-circular elements will be staggered with regard to the others so that a more effective sealing operation will result.

Still another and further important object of the invention is the provision of a novel holder or retaining element for the assembled fluid seal if this invention.

, Other and further important objects of the in vention will be apparent from the disclosures in,

the accompanying drawing and following speciflcatlon.

The invention, in a preferred form. is shown in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail view, partly in section, of a rotatable shaft with the improved split oil seal of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing. in more detail, the oil seal and structure itself.

Figure 3 is a still further enlargement illustrating the end of one of the elements of the oil sealing structure.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the assembled sea'ling structure, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in dotted lines to indicate the staggered relationship of the parts.

Figure 5 is a side view of the structure of Figure 4, looking at the same-from the line 5'-5 of Figure 4 and also including details of the clamping and supporting structure.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

As shown in the drawing: I

The reference numeral l0 indicates generally a shaft such as, for example, the crank-shaft of an automobile or other internal combustion engine, the same being supported in bearings l2 and having the improved oil seal of this invention applied thereto.

The oil seal itself comprises a plurality of flexible seali'ng elements 14, each preferably composed of some composition such as synthetic rubher and having a lip portion 16 (Figure 5) defined by an annular groove or cut I 8, and this synthetic rubber sealing element is mounted on and supported by a metallic washer 20 to which it is securely fastened, preferably during the vulcanizing operation. The washer 20 has openings 22 therein into which portions 24 of the synthetic rubber are extruded during the molding and vul- .canizing operation, thereby providing a close contacting relationship between the parts and preventing any possibility of the sealing element proper ever becoming loose from the metallic washer.

As will be best noted from Figure 4, each of the metallic washers 20 is approximately in the form of a semi-circle, preferably being fore-shortened at each end as indicated at 28. thereby providing a slight extending portion of the flexible sealing element which completes the semi-circle.

As best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, thesemicircular sections 14-20 are assembled into a circular relationship about the shaft Ill and see curely clamped in position there-about by means oi a supporting structure which comprises an outer plate somewhat l-shaped in cross-section, this being aflixed by means of bolts 82 to an inner support 84, the bolts being securely tightened so as to retain the parts in proper cooperative relationship.

From an inspection of Figures 4 and 5. it will be noted that the inner semi-circular sections are staggered with relation to the outer assembled pairs of sections, this best indicated by the dotted lines 36 in Figure 4 and also from the end view which comprises Figure 3. This staggering of the assembly acts to positively prevent any possible leakage of oil or other fluid through the joints which are formed when the pairs of semicircular sections are assembled in the holders 30-44.

Obviously, some compression of the parts takes place when the device is assembled into position, this also enhancing the sealing action, this compression being both lateral on account of the action of the bolts 32 and also vertically or diametrically on account of the structural relationship of the parts 3034 and their positioning with regard to the shaft l0.

In Figure 6. the metal washer 38 is slightly wider than the washers 20, and has its inner periphery bent downwardlyas shown at 40 into the groove 42 in the flerdble sealing element 44. The dimension of this downwardly turned edge is such that a reinforcement for the sealing lip of the element 44 is provided, while, at the same time, binding against the shaft is prevented. This provides a more. rugged construction for heavy work.

It will be seen that herein is provided a split seal which can be readily applied about a shaft which has a shoulder thereon, and which can also be installed after a motor or other similar mechanical structure has been assembled, while, at the same time, an adequate sealing relationship will result. Furthermore, the parts themselves are readily constructed in quantities for production and quite economically, while, at the same time; great numbers of standard sizes can be readily made up, thereby cutting expense.

I aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore,

do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

A split oil seal adapted for application'to' a shaft, comprising a. plurality of semi-circular portions, each portion including a flat metallic half washer, and a flat semi-circular flexible sealing element attached thereto. the flexible portion of each section being of a radial width slightly greater than the corresponding 'width of the metallic half washer, said additional width including a flexible lip portion outlined by an annular groove, the outermost edge of the annular groove coinciding with the inner edge of the metallic washer, the metallic half washer being fore-shortened at its out radial ends, and means for fastening said portions together about a shaft while, at the same time, compressing the flexible elements whereby the metallic half washers contact each other.

JOSEPH M. SCHMIED. 

